Target species going forwards: September is the "poor man's" May. There is a huge number of birds moving; so the potential is there for several big year additions. I need a number of passerines, my shorebird list is still full of holes, and there are some "unusual" birds that I expect (Pomarine!). Stay tuned.

I wanted 5 new shorebirds, 2 Jaegers and a rarity that wasn't a NECO... I failed. Sure, I scored 2 Jaegers, and had some great additions (Sabine's Gull, Red-necked Phalarope, etc) but I managed to see some shorebirds for a "second" time in 2015 - like Short-billed Dowitcher or Whimbrel... Can I trade those for a Golden Plover? Or a Greater Yellowlegs? Stilt Sand? Pec? Turnstone? Godwit? eh? eh?!

I think September will involve playing a game with the weather. Late August provided several days of really boring weather-birding with a cutoff low bringing the same thing day after day. I could use some really good storms - from any direction - to whip up some action along the lake for just about any family. With lots of birds around, it will be fun to check back in October and see if I was able to plug any holes.

I don't typically think of September as a big "rarity month" (although the last week of September can be great); yet I only need moderate rare. I also happen to be sitting at 199 *all time* for my condo; so it would be nice to get #200 as a real highlight bird, rather than something overdue. I'm thinking Western Kingbird or American Avocet.... Instead of Canada Warbler or Ruddy Turnstone...